Malnutrition hits Ivorian refugee children in Liberia
July 12, 2011BY William Selmah, WADR Correspondent
Reports from border towns in northeastern Liberia say many Ivorian refugee children are malnourished in several Liberian border towns and villages.
The Officer -In- Charge at the Yorpea Clinic in Liberia’s northeastern Nimba county, Jerry Bahgou put the number of reported cases at more than a dozen.
Local communities have been playing host to tens of thousands of Ivorian refugees since as a result of post election fighting in the Ivory Coast, which ended in April with the capture of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo.
Bahdou however said most of the cases of malnutrition have been referred to hospitals in the area, because of the gravity of the situation.Towns that have confirmed cases include Dialeh, Zordru and Yorpea.
According to the Chairman of the refugee community in Karnplay Goahnue Nazaire, the refugees in the area have not received relief supplies since last March, something that has led to acute food shortage, especially among refugees living outside of designated camps and transit centers.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) coordinates refugee programs in that part of Liberia.
With deplorable road conditions worsened by heavy rains, only refugees in camps and transit centers are benefiting most from assorted humanitarian assistance.
More than 40,000 of the 100,000 plus Ivorian refugees currently reside in border towns and villages in Liberia’s northeastern Nimba County.
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